I do not know the age of this box but dovetails are beautiful, I think to be a member you were voted in, put either white ball for acceptance or black ball and you are loser and blacklisted. The balls seem to be glass, maybe some are different, it just arrived and I have not played with it yet! Also there is one red ball! (in photo), these are very old, or I believe they are. there is a Greek word ostraka (pottery shred) and used to ostracism or ostracize a person from Athens for 10 years, by putting yes or no pottery shreds in a box. This is where blackballing started. I paid quite a lot for this $53.00 but I really wanted it! I just love unusual things! I even built an old Catholic Church in one corner of my dining room! Thanks for looking!